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<h2>It was a cold morning when I discovered my hamster frozen with its teeth clenched around its cage</h2>
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<p>The unfortunate day I discovered Hooey died was a sad one, the 4th of July. We held a burial service for him, and my sister made a &#8216;gravestone&#8217; for him. </p>
<p>With a marker pen, she wrote his name and the years he was alive on half a transparent CD cover and stuck it into the ground where we buried him.</p>
<p><b>But&#8230; was Hooey truly dead? Or could he have just been &#8216;hibernating&#8217;?&nbsp;</b></p>
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<p class="img-caption">Image for illustration purposes only.</p>
<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theprogress.com/community/chilliwack-veterinarian-stubbles-across-childs-hamster-memorial-on-trail-1907086" rel="noopener">Dr Leslie Ann Ross/The Chilliwack Progress</a></small>
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<h2>Decades later, I&#8217;ve discovered that certain hamster types, such as Siberian and dwarf hamsters, actually &#8216;hibernate&#8217; in the wild to survive colder climates</h2>
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<p><b>Whether your pet hamster actually does this or not depends on the temperature you maintain in your home. </b></p>
<p>Veterinary nurse Leah Feusse told <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.thedodo.com/dodowell/do-hamsters-hibernate">The Dodo</a>, &#8220;Pet hamsters will begin &#8216;hibernating&#8217; if the temperature of their habitat drops below 65ºF (18ºC) for more than 24 hours.&#8221;</p>
<p>For the most part, &#8220;<b>pet hamsters don&#8217;t usually hibernate</b> when they&#8217;re used to living in comfortable temperatures that don&#8217;t change much,&#8221; according to The Dodo.</p>
<p>In other words,<b> it&#8217;s </b><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://woodgreen.org.uk/pet-advice/hamster/do-hamsters-hibernate-and-what-is-torpor/"><b>dangerous for your pet</b></a><b> hamster to &#8216;hibernate&#8217;</b>, or to use the more correct term — torpor. </p>
<p>Torpor is an involuntary state of reduced mental or motor activity. It&#8217;s&nbsp;a survival tactic automatically triggered when an animal gets too cold or has limited access to food and water.<b></b></p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/a-hamster-in-a-house-with-a-pine-cone-r149yvhlJ4Q" rel="noopener">Sunira Moses/Unsplash</a></small>
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<h2>Here&#8217;s how to tell if your hamster is in torpor:</p>
<p>I. Observe it closely for signs of life — these may include minor twitching, a gentle jerk or tremble, or slowed-down breathing</h2>
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<p>Despite appearing motionless and &#8216;dead&#8217;, hamsters in a torpid state usually exhibit signs of life. You can lightly stroke their paw or whiskers, which might elicit a response. Watch their chest or abdomen closely for signs of breathing. </p>
<p>&#8220;When &#8216;hibernating&#8217;, <b>a hamster can slow their breathing down to only one breath every two minutes, so be patient.</b> You can also feel their ribcage, just above their elbows, for a heartbeat,&#8221; Feusse&nbsp;explains.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://unsplash.com/photos/selective-focus-photography-of-mouse-9_V3wHZaS68" rel="noopener">Kong Jun/Unsplash</a></small>
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<h2>2. Check its body temperature</h2>
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<p>Despite a hamster&#8217;s body temperature dropping during torpor and appearing mostly cold and lifeless, there could still be a faint indication of warmth.</p>
<p>Touch your hamster gently to check if it is a tiny bit warm. Dead hamsters will be stone cold. (<i>Hooey was found stone cold, so I guess it was his time to go after all. RIP, Hooey. T.T &lt;3</i>).<b></b></p>
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<h2>3. Check if your pet hamster&#8217;s body is limp or stiff</h2>
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<p><b><u>Do this as a last resort</u> </b>if you really can&#8217;t tell if your hamster is dead or in a torpid state, as <b><u>moving your hamster could cause it stress or harm its health</u></b>.</p>
<p>If you pick it up in a torpid state, its body will be limp. On the other hand, a deceased hamster will be completely stiff as it undergoes rigor mortis, a process where the muscles and joints stiffen after a couple of hours of death.</p>
<p><b>Make sure that you handle this step with care and sensitivity</b>, as the health of your hamster should be your number one priority.</p>
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<p>                <small class="img-credit">Image via <a target="_blank" href="https://hamsterscape.nl/en/2020/08/19/hibernation-or-torpor/" rel="noopener">Hamsterscape</a></small>
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<h2>If you have determined that your pet hamster is in torpor, this suggests that you need to adjust its habitat</h2>
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<p>In the wild, when a hamster enters a state of torpor, it will typically last two to three days. However, in more rigid conditions, it could last a week. </p>
<p><b>In a domestic situation, your pet hamster <u>should only be in torpor for 24 hours.</u></b> <b>Anything longer may lead to your pet&#8217;s starvation or dehydration. </b>That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s important to closely monitor your hamster&#8217;s needs.</p>
<p>One way to safely revive your pet is to increase the temperature of its environment with body warmth. According to <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://petsvills.com/do-hamsters-hibernate/">Pets Vills</a>, you can do this by gently picking up your hamster and holding it close to your body for warmth for 30 minutes. </p>
<p>Alternatively, you can use a hot water bottle filled with hot water (not boiling). Wrap it in a towel or cloth and place it near your pet to transfer heat.&nbsp;</p>
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<h2>Just remember that when you&#8217;re warming your pet, do it gradually and gently</h2>
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<p>You&#8217;ll want to ensure that its temperature slowly adjusts. <b>Any sudden changes in temperature may cause stress or be harmful to your pet hamster.</p>
<p></b>Also, be mindful that if your hamster has entered a state of torpor, it&#8217;s an indication that its environment needs to be adjusted.<br /><b></b></p>
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<p><i><b>Sources: </b></i><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://www.thedodo.com/dodowell/do-hamsters-hibernate"><i><b></b>The Dodo</i></a><i>, </i><a target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" href="https://petsvills.com/do-hamsters-hibernate/"><i>Pets Vills<b></b></i></a><i></i></p>
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Did You Know: Hamsters That Appear To Be Dead May Sometimes Just Be 'Hibernating'